Robinson Double Secures Victory For Thackley.

A hard working Thackley side earn a rare win at Queensgate.

Thackley travelled to the east coast on Saturday to play their penultimate game of the season against third in the table Bridlington Town. Thackley needed a point to ensure they finished in at least fifth place in the league this season. The Seasiders had lost only once in their last twelve matches, they had already knocked the Dennyboys out of the League Cup and taken a point from their visit to Dennyfield earlier in the season. Thackley were missing six regulars and the starting eleven virtually picked itself. Mike Garrod dropped back to the defence, Tawonga Gumboh and Matt Broadley joined Luke Robinson up front.

There was a strong breeze blowing down the pitch, which was very hard, it was obvious from the start that conditions would make it difficult to control the ball. It was the home side that exerted the early pressure and they won a couple of corners which caused some consternation in the Thackley defence. Thackley keeper Luke Wilson did well to punch away a dangerous looking Jack Walters cross as the away side tried to come to terms with the difficult conditions. It was the same for both sides and little football was possible, both defences were on top. Louis Kirk volleyed wide but there was little goal mouth action in the opening half hour or so. On thirty five minutes Thackley went close to opening the scoring, Matt Broadley’s cross field pass put Ryan Farrell in the clear, his shot across goal had beaten home keeper Steve Janney but found the post and rebounded to safety. Nearly all the first half action came in the final five minutes, Wilson making a couple of good saves before Thackley got the opening goal. Broadley did well to get a cross into the box; Luke Robinson got his head to the ball to loop it over Janney. It was the ideal time to score; however, it still gave the home side time to go close when Jake Day headed over from a corner. Thackley were happy to take their one goal advantage into the break.

Half time: Bridlington Town 0 Thackley 1.

Bridlington came out for the second half looking to get back into the game but the Thackley defence were preventing them getting into the area and restricting them to long range efforts. Territorially, the home side were in control but Thackley were closing them down quickly. Bridlington did have the ball in the net just after the hour but Wilson had been impeded and the goal was ruled out. The referee seemed intent on letting the Seasiders back into the game giving them numerous soft free kicks for innocuous contact but these generally came to nothing. It was somewhat against the run of play that Thackley increased their lead in the eighty second minute. Robinson was again the scorer, controlling the ball well whilst under pressure from a defender, he fired in a low drive that beat the diving Janney. Broadley made way for Joe Storey as Thackley now had three points in their sight. Bridlington continued to press as the game went into time added on and managed to reduce the deficit. It was from another rather soft free kick; Wilson got a hand on Walters shot but could not stop it entering the net. The Thackley keeper had to come out and make a save and Agnew headed over in the remaining added time but Thackley held out to take all three points.

Full time: Bridlington Town 1 Thackley 2.

It was a backs to the wall performance from a team willing to work hard in quite difficult conditions. It is not that often that a team comes away from Queensgate with a victory, this result, everything considered, was one of the best of the season. The three points ensure that Thackley finish in at least fifth position in the league.

Two weeks before the final game of the season when Thackley travel to play Worksop Town. The Dennyboys will be looking to finish the season on a high with a victory; if they do they will have accumulated the highest points total of a Thackley team since joining the NCEL in 1982.

Bridlington Town team: Janney; Lewis; Walters; Kirk (Fleming); Jenkinson (C); Knaggs; Norfolk; Taylor; Agnew; Day (Harrison); Adams (Blakeston). Subs not used: Bedford; Fox.

Thackley team: Wilson; Garrod; Hargreaves; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Whiteley; Luke Robinson; Gumboh; Broadley (Joe Storey 84mins). Subs not used: Tom Storey; Padgett.

Bridlington Town scorer: Jack Walters 90+ mins.

Thackley scorer: Luke Robinson 42 and 82 mins.

Attendance: 187.

Referee: Ian Grittins.

Photo : Goal scorer Luke Robinson in action against Bridlington. (Photo from NCEL website).